Lori Howard Volunteers at United States Olympic Training Center

VALDOSTA – Lori Howard,
Valdosta State University athletic training faculty member, completed her
second volunteer assignment with the United States Olympic Training Center’s (USOTC)
sports medicine team on March 18 - April 1 in Chula Vista, Calif.

The Chula Vista OTC has sport
venues and support facilities for the Olympic sports of archery, BMX,
canoe/kayak, cycling, field hockey, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track
& field and triathlon. Howard
worked primarily with the women’s field hockey team, and she also assisted the
OTC staff with BMX cycling practice coverage and clinic coverage.

She was the only medical
volunteer during her two-week rotation. The medical staff treats
orthopedic injuries as well as assessing and referring general medical and
psychosocial conditions.

“It is very similar to my
experience as a clinical athletic trainer in the collegiate setting,” said
Howard, who earned her Bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from VSU. “You
treat the injuries or conditions that are within your scope of training and
education and serve as the gatekeeper for referral to other medical
professionals on the sports medicine team.”

Howard says some highlights
from her trip were working with a post-operative men’s rugby player, getting to
spend two weeks with women’s field hockey and attending BMX practices. Her
spare time was limited to mostly Sundays when she had time off to explore the
San Diego area.

“I have always been a huge
fan of the Olympic movement and have watched all of the Olympic games since I
was a child,” said Howard. “I worked in the Olympic village and the
closing ceremonies at the 1996 Atlanta games so it is great to feel that I am
contributing in a small way to something that has brought me so much
inspiration and pleasure as a fan.”

Previously Lori has been a
medical volunteer at the OTC in Colorado Springs, Colo., and worked primarily
with the men’s gymnastics team and women’s volleyball team.